CHAPTER XIII. OF THE POSITIONS AND MOTIONS OF THE HANDS. The motions of the hands perhaps innumerable---Their expressions according to Quintilian-According to Vossius-According to CresolliusStory of Apollonius Rhodius from Philostratus-Importance attached by the ancients to the disposition of the fingers-Passage from Quintilian with the translation illustrated by figures-Observations on Quintilian by Cresollius-Positions of the hands divided into four different classes together with the notation-Motions of the hands and notation. CHAPTER XIII. Of the Positions and Motions of the Hands. THE positions and motions of the hands are so numerous, and may be so exceedingly varied by minute changes, that it would perhaps prove impossible, and would certainly be a very useless labour, to attempt to describe them all. The efforts of the ancient pantomimes, who digested the motions of the body, and particularly those of the hands, into a sort of language, were very extraordinary; and were probably more so in this respect, than those of modern dancers, whose attention is chiefly engaged by the lower limbs. But at present I shall forbear to enter into any discussion on this subject, I have now to enquire only into a few of those positions and motions of the hands which may suit the public speaker, and may perhaps be of some use to the actor who applies gesture only to illustrate the sentiments which he delivers, and not as an independant language. Quintilian considers the gesture of the hands of such importance for illustration and enforcement, that after a long and eloquent enumeration of their powers, he even attributes to them the faculty of universal language. "Without the aid of the hands, action would be mutilated "and void of energy, but it is hardly possible, since they are "almost as copious as words themselves, to enumerate the Tt variety of motions of which they are capable. The action "of the other parts of the body assists the speaker, but the "hands (I could almost say) speak themselves. By them do we not demand, promise, call, dismiss, threaten, supplicate, express abhorrence and terror, question, and deny? do we "not by them express joy and sorrow, doubt, confession, repentance, measure, quantity, number and time? do they "not also encourage, supplicate, restrain, convict admire, "respect? and in pointing out places and persons do they not discharge the office of adverbs and of pronouns? so that in "the great diversity of languages, which obtain among all kingdoms and nations, theirs appears to me the universal "language of all mankind.” Vossius follows the opinion of Quintilian almost in the same words. “The hands” he says "not only assist the speaker, but "seem almost themselves to speak." But Cresollius in his ardent manner goes far beyond the correct criticism and tempered warmth of Quintilian. The very contents or title of the chapter in which he treats of the hands, are in this spirit : • Manus vero, sine quibus trunca esset actio ac debilis, vix dici potest, quot motus habeant, cum pene ipsam verborum copiam persequantur. Nam ceteræ partes loquentem adjuvant, hæ (prope est ut dicam) ipsæ loquuntur. An non his poscimus? pollicemur ? vocamus? dimittimus? minamur? supplicamus? abominamur? timemus? interrogamus? negamus? gaudium, tristitiam, dubitationem, confessionem, pœnitentiam, modum, copiam, numerum, tempus, ostendimus? non eædem concitant? supplicant? inhibent? probant? admirantur? verecundantur? non in demonstrandis locis atque personis adverbiorum atque pronominum obtinent vicem? ut in tanta per omnes gentes nationesque linguæ diversitate hic mihi omnium hominum communis sermo videatur. Quint. l. xi. c. 3. • Manus non modo loquentem adjuvant, sed ipse pene loqui videntur. Voss. Inst. Orat. "The hand, the admirable contrivance of the divine "artist. The minister of reason and wisdom.-Without the hand no eloquence. "Man, I say, full of wisdom and divinity could have "appeared nothing superior to a naked trunk or a block, had "he not been adorned with this interpreter and messenger of "his thoughts. "The celebrated Physician Cous, called the practice of the gestures of the hand the most excellent lesson in eloquence. "The brother of St. Basil said, that had men been formed "without hands, they would never have been endowed with "an articulate voice. 66 66 Among the wise men of Egypt, the inventors of the sacred hieroglyphics, their designation of language, was by the symbol of a hand placed under a tongue. "Contention, play, love, revels change and rest, "Every thing, it must be confessed, depends on the hand; it gives strength and colouring to eloquence, and adds force and "nerves to the riches of thought, which, otherwise languid, creeping on the ground, and deficient in vigour, would lose "all estimation." "Hence we see how it came to pass, that among the inter"preters of dreams, the hand signifies language, because the |